Svitolina and Monfils Advance to US Open Mixed Doubles Semifinals

Married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals on Tuesday in New York, defeating Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3), (10-8) at Flushing Meadows.

The victory put the wild-card entry pair into the final four to compete for a $1 million prize, defeating a team featuring the world's top-ranked individual men's and women's doubles players. Monfils, who turns 40 on Sept. 1, is competing in his final Grand Slam tournament before retiring.

Svitolina and Monfils advanced after winning a tight third-set tiebreaker. Monfils delivered a notable defensive athletic play for a winner in the opening set tiebreak to help secure the early lead.

"Happy wife, happy life," said Monfils in their postmatch interview after a kiss and hug on the court.

Svitolina noted that the pair entered the tournament with low expectations after receiving wild-card invitations, having only practiced specific doubles tactics starting Monday.

"I mean, we practice quite a lot together back at home or on the tournaments. Only yesterday we worked on few things for doubles," said Svitolina.

The Ukrainian star explained her initial thoughts before entering the main draw.

"When we warmed up this morning, yeah, I told my coach it would be amazing if we can win just a few games," said Svitolina.

In other mixed doubles action, Serena Williams made her return to the US Open court for the first time since 2022, partnering with Carlos Alcaraz. The duo won their opening match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 before falling in the second round to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1.

"It's always such an amazing place to be here," said Williams. "I never expected to be back on this court, so it was just a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen."

Bencic and Cobolli moved on to face Svitolina and Monfils on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the couple took an early lead in a first-set tiebreak on Wednesday evening. The tournament's revamped two-day format featured shortened sets to four games with a 10-point tiebreaker for deciding sets prior to the final.

In the second semifinal bracket, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev were set to play Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik. Muchova and Mensik advanced by defeating Americans Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul 4-1, 5-3.

"It's definitely one of the most important things, to look good on the court, as well," said Mensik regarding coordinating outfits with Muchova.

Mensik also commented on the fast-paced scoring format introduced during Fan Week.

"I will say if we play until basically regular rules, until six games, will be much more difficult," said Mensik.

Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic were eliminated in the first round by Siniakova and Patten 1-4, 4-2, (10-2). The event's overhaul this year integrated an eight-team qualifying tournament to allow doubles specialists alongside top singles players.